03

Charlotte E. H. Or Ginger

— So kid, what's your name? — Merle asked with all his delicacy, when he expected him to ignore the subject. He wouldn't deny that he liked Merle, he loved brotherly loyalty and all that stuff... Whether he wanted to or not, he was loyal and loved his younger brother even though he was an asshole. I pondered for a moment before responding.

People called me many things while I was alive, but on my certificate I was Charlotte, a name I had received from the one who didn't hesitate before abandoning me.

But was I still that Charlotte? It wasn't the same body, it wasn't the same life, damn it wasn't even the same country!

— Ginger. — I had reincarnated right? So I could have whatever name I wanted. There wasn't a special, emotional reason, I simply thought Ginger was a beautiful name, she wasn't the kind of deep girl who gives a meaning or reason to do everything. —Uncle Merlee, cold. — I smiled at the frown I got from him before seeing him take a blanket from under the bench and throw it over my body in a clumsy way. In my eyes, Merle Dixon was not a bad man, but perhaps it was my love for the Dixons speaking louder than my logical side.

Taking advantage of the situation, I rested my head on his body and felt him tense up before mumbling some things. Merle Dixon smelled of the forest, alcohol and gunpowder. It was pleasant in a way.

I hugged his torso with my tiny, painful arms that barely reached halfway up his belly. It was still dawn and the sun was beginning to show its first rays while my childish body began to show the tiredness of a sleepless night. But I couldn't let myself win since I had a new, short list of missions.

First: Win the hearts of the Dixon's.

Second: Getting used to that mini body.

Everything started to get dark even though the sun was rising in a unique orange color while I was trying to put together my list of missions, that cold that accompanied the night was slowly starting to dissipate thanks to the sun's rays.

...

Daryl was changing my leg bandages while I sat quietly on the hood of the car.

— Darlu, Darly, Daryu. — I tried to speak, but it was almost impossible not to get confused in R and L, before it wasn't a problem since I only spoke his name in my thoughts, after all maybe my English wasn't that perfect. I snorted irritably. I knew even Merle's name sounded strange when I said it, but at least I could say it.

—Da-ryl. — He tried to help me and for the first time I saw him smile, or rather, try to contain his smile as his lips trembled in a thin line. He probably thought it was thanks to my 'age' and not the different nationality.

— Da - rry - u. — I tried to imitate but it was a complete failure. I could hear Merle laughing in the background, apparently having a lot of fun with the scene. Daryl picked me up for the second time that day and set me down on the dirt floor.

The sun was setting, putting an end to my second day with the Dixon brothers, we had arrived at the quarry some time ago and as expected the Dixon brothers preferred to stay further away from the group. The day was barely ending and I was already noticing dirty looks towards the Dixons, especially towards Merle, not that I could blame anyone for that, Merle was already making his construction jokes which I couldn't do anything but laugh at. plus when Daryl would give Merle a dirty look for talking dirty around a 'child' which only made me laugh more, they were strangely pleasant to be around.

— Take it brat. — Merle pushed me a piece of meat that was roasting, they had hidden the little corpse aka dead squirrel thinking I would have a crying fit and Daryl only showed up with the strips of meat he took from the poor squirrel.

Rest in peace my squirrel friend.

I awkwardly sat down next to Merle on the makeshift wooden log chair that Daryl had arranged and picked up the squirrel skewer while swinging my little legs nonchalantly. Daryl was on my right side and Merle on my left, each too busy with their own food to talk, so I left my attention on the camp a little further 'forward'. Sophia and Carl played carefree like the children they were, it was a beautiful scene to see.

— Do you want to go play with them? — Daryl asked, looking at me sideways as he sank his teeth into the poor squirrel.

I shook my head no, that would be humiliating as well as ridiculous, even though it seemed fun.

I didn't get an answer and soon the three of us were eating in silence.

I left the plate of food where I was sitting and got behind Merle before I heard a curse as I started to play with his thinning hair.

—What the hell are you doing, Brat? — He asked without moving.

— Playing beauty salon. — I didn't know three-year-old children, but something tells me that they shouldn't speak so well, however I refused to lower my level any further, I still have principles, they are few and flawed but I have them.

But damn, the face Merle made was priceless!

— Daryl does something. — I heard Merle's astonished voice and held back a laugh as I finished arranging his hair into a mohawk.

— Turn around. — He shrugged his shoulders, pretending not to care, despite clearly being amused by the scene. I smiled, happy with my work when I saw that all of his hair was standing on end.

- Next!. — I ran to Daryl's side and saw him choke on his food while Merle started laughing.

It could be a start, it was nice to see the Dixons smile.

And luckily for me, something told me that I was already winning the hearts of the Dixon brothers